Webflow Review: Is This the Best Website Builder for Your Online Business?
Webflow is a visual website builder and also a hosting service, ecommerce platform, and content management system (CMS).
In this in-depth Webflow review, we’re going to break down the cloud-based platform’s core features, pros, cons, and pricing options.
We’ll also pit Webflow against other website builders to see if it’s the right design tool for you, and then introduce an all-in-one free alternative with all the tools to grow your online business from the ground up.
Let’s begin. Shall we?
What is Webflow?
Webflow’s homepage
Founded in 2013, Webflow is an original invention of Vlad Magdalin (CEO) and his brother Sergie Magdalin — as well as their friend Bryant Chou.
The trio created the San Francisco-based company on the premise that they’ll provide a better responsive website builder, one that allows anyone to create a website without writing a single line of code.
But with limited resources, the company struggled to remain afloat.
Seven years later (while facing imminent bankruptcy), the Webflow platform got off the ground with a $72 million Series A funding round.
Today, Webflow is not only a website builder but also an entire website and software development platform mainly targeting web designers.
With Webflow’s feature-set, you can:
Create content-driven website designs
Launch custom ecommerce stores that set your business apart
Build a Webflow community by monetizing members-only content
Optimize your website with search engine optimization (SEO) settings to rank in search engines
Synchronize your Webflow CMS and connect all your websites
Integrate your website to marketing tools powering your business
If you want to build a website without knowing how to code (so that you can focus on growing your business, Webflow might be suitable for you.
Like most website builders, Webflow (despite its creative powers) falls short of its acquired perfection in some key areas.
Let's have a closer look at Webflow’s strengths and weaknesses.
Webflow’s pros and cons
We’ve dug through tens and hundreds of verified user reviews to compile a short (but detailed) list of Webflow’s pros and cons.
Pros
Beginner-friendly and easy-to-use with an intuitive UI (user interface) that makes building websites comfortable
Comes with powerful CMS useful in designing custom websites and landing pages
Easy-to-access feature-set with a library of Webflow templates
Boasts customization of a traditional WordPress website, but without the line of code and frustrating maintenance
Webflow templates and component cloning features are great, especially when deploying complex animations
Cons
Too many parameters to set on Webflow’s interface, making it bulky and slow to load
Lacks mobile compatibility
The platform comes with minimal SEO support
The platform has complex customization options
Webflow pricing model has a steep learning curve. It simply takes time to figure out how its pricing works
Thinking about moving over to Webflow? Or trying to know what tips the scales in Webflow’s favor?
Scroll down and you’ll find Webflow’s key features but most importantly, what these features can do for you and your business.
Webflow review — Key features
It’s a given that Webflow can build any type of website, and also boasts a variety of features that increasingly attempt to do everything.
In this section, we’ll explore Webflow’s core features (in greater detail) to see what Webflow offers or what it does better.
Website designer
Nothing beats having a professional web design.
It provides a better first impression and helps attract website visitors, boosting revenues in the process.
In other words, a great site builder builds stunning web designs.
Webflow’s visual interface (Webflow Designer) works in a similar fashion.
It sets itself apart from other traditional website builders and bears a close similarity to Photoshop and other high-flying design software.
A canvas in the Webflow Designer
At first glance, the Webflow Site Designer looks complex but it’s set up in such a way that its structure is logical and intuitive.
So, what does the Webflow Designer feature do better?
Let’s start by talking about what you can do with this feature:
Build a website by adding (raw) page elements for full control
Create reusable symbols (such as signup forms, footers, navigation bars, and more) that you can change across your website
Manage your pages' element structure to keep elements organized
Create your website with real content by working directly with CMS data and Webflow ecommerce products
Best of all, Webflow’s Designer tool lets you design responsive websites.
It also allows you to work with a CSS-based class system to make style changes across multiple elements — all at the same time.
For the uninitiated, CSS (short for cascading style sheets) is the language used to style and lay out web pages.
For example, it describes font presentation, layout, color, size, and even spacing of your content.
The site builder also comes with a library of both free and premium responsive website templates for businesses, designers, and personal use.
Webflow’s site templates
Webflow’s Website Designer feature simply cuts through the noise to make it work for your website building needs.
Overall, it helps you:
Structure your web page elements
Style every web page element to your satisfaction
Launch your website
And then, publish your website straight to the web
But building and publishing a website is just half the journey. You need to also create, manage, modify and publish content.
This is possible with an effective content management system in place.
Content management system
Having an ironclad CMS makes it easier for users who are non-technical to build functional web pages or upload, manage, and modify content — without the need for a web developer or knowing how to code.
Webflow’s CMS allows you to create content structures, add relevant content, and then visually design your website.
Best of all, the tool is designed with the following individuals in mind:
Web designers — As a web designer, Webflow’s CMS lets you design your web pages visually around your content.
How to connect dynamic content to any page layout
You can even connect dynamic content to any page layout by simply adding the elements you want, then pulling in the data from your CMS.
Content editors — As an editor, Webflow CMS lets you write, edit, and update content right on the page, then publish with a few clicks
Edit content right on the web page
If you want a headline changed, edit once and it’ll update across the entire website.
Webflow’s CMS also lets you grant customers and team members access to edit and add content anytime.
Content strategists — As a content strategist, use Webflow’s CMS to create custom content types and structures to meet your needs
Custom fields for creating structured content
Webflow’s content management system lets you build a diagrammatic presentation (schema), then connect it to any web design you want.
In short, you won’t need web templates, complex code languages, or to create blog-centric content structures.
Web developers — As a web developer, Webflow’s CMS lets you add, update, delete or publish content right from your terminal
Work directly with JavaScript using CMS
With Webflow’s CMS API, you can bring content in from your external data sources, connect an existing content management system, or publish to a mobile application.
In a nutshell, with Webflow’s content management system, it’s easier to create, manage, and update a website’s content yourself — and you can do all this in the backend using a simple user interface.
If managing your website’s content feels like a hassle, then you might probably benefit from using the Webflow Editor.
Webflow editor
The Webflow Editor (also known as Webflow CMS) comes with an easy-to-use dashboard and a well-organized back end.
It’s simply just you, your website, and the content you want to modify!
The Webflow Editor helps you to better manage your website and its content without the need for the Webflow Designer tool.
Webflow Editor interface
With the Webflow Editor, you can:
Write and edit content right on your web page, so there’s simply no need to navigate a complex CMS (we see you, WordPress)
Create and publish new content with just a few clicks
Optimize every page of your website with easy search engine optimization (SEO) controls, so there’s no need for an SEO plugin
Automatically define meta titles and descriptions using fields in your CMS Collections (think of them as content types with different structures that aptly links designers with content creators)
It’s worth noting that the Webflow Editor is more of an additional tool to the Webflow Designer, and it makes it easier to add and manage content.
This means you can use the Designer without the Editor, but not vice versa.
If you’re looking to build a simple website with the need for CMS, the Webflow Designer might come in handy.
But if you want to create a “larger-than-life” website, and still make the most of design and dynamic content, the Editor can probably do better!
However, let’s be real here: What’s the point of pushing the limits of web design and creating dynamic content if you can’t create unique ecommerce experiences for your customers?
This is where Webflow’s ecommerce solutions come in.
Ecommerce platform
Ecommerce is a mainstay of Webflow’s platform.
As a web designer, Webflow lets you design an ecommerce site, your way, from the ground up with almost anything — custom effects, animations, interactions, and a full-on responsive layout.
Webflow’s custom interactions and animations
The Webflow platform offers tools to help you sell things online and deliver an ecommerce experience that reflects your business.
With Webflow’s ecommerce feature-set, you can:
Build and design an online store (with branded purchase flows)
Customize your cart, checkout pages, and transactional emails
Create custom interactions and animations
Sell physical products and digital goods or services
Automate your on-page SEO to scale your online business
Run campaigns or promotions for your customers
Connect your online store with popular marketing tools such as Hotjar, Google Analytics, and Facebook
Admittedly, Webflow isn’t the perfect tool for your website creation needs or a great content management system like WordPress, but it has a lot going for it. And it also packs more features than we’ve covered.
Let’s briefly explore some of the platform’s bonus features.
Extra features
Webflow boasts extra but professional features that both beginners and advanced users can use to achieve their website-building goals.
But you might be wondering: Will these extra features make a difference in your business?
If your website-building and CMS goals align with these extra features, then they’ll most probably appeal to you and your business.
With that said, is the Webflow platform affordable?
Let’s talk about how much Webflow costs to use.
Webflow’s pricing
For starters, Webflow’s pricing model is (super) complicated.
You have to painfully deal with 3 different sets of pricing options:
1. Site plans
2. Ecommerce plans
3. Workspace plans
Let’s quickly dig into these plans.
First off, the “Site” and “Ecommerce” plans are the easiest to understand, that’s because they mimic those of Wix and Shopify.
To put it another way…
Both pricing options require users to pay a monthly fee before they can get access to essential site-building tools, including Webflow hosting, CMS, and the option to map their website using Webflow’s custom domain.
Site plans: Ideal for brochure sites, blogs, and portfolio sites
Webflow’s Site plans
Starter — $0/month to begin designing and learning Webflow
Basic — $15/month for launching a simple site
CMS — $20/month for starting a blog or content-driven site
Business — $45/month for building a high traffic website
Enterprise — (Contact the sales team for prices)
Overall, with the Site plans, the more expensive the pricing, the more features you get to start building your online presence.
Ecommerce plans:
Webflow’s Ecommerce plans
Standard — $42/month to get all CMS plan features
Plus — $84/month to get all Business plan features
Advanced — $235/month to level up your online business
Side note: With the Ecommerce plan you get access to essential tools that’ll help you sell digital and physical products.
Workspace plans: You get to access collaboration features and the ability to work on multiple site designs all at once
Webflow’s Workspace plans
Starter — $0/month to access 1 seat and 2 unhosted websites
Core — $28/month for up to 10 unhosted sites and custom code
Growth — $60/month for unlimited unhosted websites
Enterprise — (Contact the sales team for prices)
While the Site and Ecommerce plans are designed for individuals looking to build their own website, Workspace plans are tailored for web design agencies and pro web designers.
But none of the Workspace plans come with web hosting.
In a nutshell, Webflow’s pricing model is based on the number of users who can work on a project, the number of products you can sell, and whether you want access to a CMS.
Does the Webflow platform offer a free plan?
Webflow comes with a basic free plan that only allows up to 2 web design projects (of 2 pages each). But if you want to export your project and host it elsewhere, you have to upgrade to a paid plan.
In short, Webflow’s free plan isn’t entirely free.
If you’re tired of wading through Webflow’s complex pricing model and navigating through its multiple web design tools, then we’ve got news for you: So were we.
But if you're a serious web designer and you care about simplicity and the experience you and your team have every day, you can get better (even free) alternatives.
Webflow alternatives
Simpler and more affordable website builders exist out there that can help you hit the ground running, with all the tools you need — but without the hefty and confusing pricing model.
A good example (and the best Webflow alternative) is systeme.io.
Systeme.io — The best all-in-one marketing platform
Systeme.io was designed with small and growing businesses in mind.
syteme.io logo
It has everything you need to grow and scale your business in one organized place, at one affordable price — starting with a website builder.
Building a site on our platform is super easy your grandma can do it!
That’s because at systeme.io we’ve made website building a no-brainer:
Start with our proven website templates and speed up your building process and time
Use our simple drag-and-drop editor to create the website you want
Integrate your email list, payment system, and online courses
Then create your website and add a blog, and eventually deliver your content to your audience
Super easy, right?
systeme.io’s visual site editor
Systeme.io takes your website-building even further than Webflow does.
We’ll get you access to other additional (and equally superior) features, without the need for clunky integrations:
Ecommerce features to help you sell digital products and services
Blog building tools to help you enhance your content marketing
Online courses and membership sites to help you sell online
Business automation and workflows to automate your business
Sales funnels and evergreen webinars to make sales and grow your target audience
With site-building and marketing functionalities like this, you’d expect to pay more than Webflow costs — well, not with us.
Before we explore systeme.io’s affordable pricing plans, check out what’s featured in every standard systeme.io account:
Publish unlimited blogs to improve your content marketing strategy
Send unlimited emails to your customer and to foster great relationships and enhance loyalty
Gain access to unlimited file storage space for storing printables, branded designs, product images, and more
Enroll unlimited students to your online courses
A 24/7 email customer support team
With that out of the way, let’s crunch the numbers.
systeme.io’s pricing structure
Our all-in-one platform comes with 4 scalable pricing plans:
Free — $0/month for 1 workflow and 1 automation rule
Startup — $27/month to create 5 blogs and access 10 sales funnels
Webinar — $47month for 100 automatiion rules and 20 blogs
Unlimited — $97/month for unlimited access of all features, including free website migration
Besides making building a fully functional website more affordable, the cream on the cake is our Free plan — it’s free forever!
So, if you want to exclusively test-drive our platform’s features, just sign up and get started on our platform free of charge. We won’t even ask for your credit card details (pinky promise).
If you’re ready to commit, why not opt in for our paid premium plans? By doing so, you’ll save up to 30% when you pay annually for systeme.io.
Best of all, we’ll make migrating your entire business to our platform a breeze, and (wait for it) completely free of charge.
Our platform is simply too good to be true (we get that a lot), but it’s not.
Can another traditional site builder also outshine Webflow?
WordPress
WordPress logo
It’s an undeniable fact that WordPress is a popular open-source website builder, powering nearly 43% of the entire Internet’s websites.
Being “open source” means WordPress is completly free to use.
You just need to pay for your hosting and start building an online store, website, blogs, or even display your portfolio projects.
Though widely renowned, WordPress has its fair share of flaws and, of course, stark differences with the Webflow platform.
For example:
You need multiple WordPress plugins to access additional features
You’re completely in charge of your site. This means you’re entirely responsible for installing updates, making backups, security, etc
WordPress lacks a built-in drag-and-drop website builder
There are so many other downsides where this came from.
But, overall, WordPress has a steep learning curve and it’s clearly not the right choice for (most) beginners or non-technical users.
According to users, WordPress is also riddled with other more peculiar issues(think vulnerabilities, slow page speeds, etc) that’ll halt your growth.
We’re sure that’s not what you want for your business.
Now, let’s see how much WordPress will cost you.
WordPress pricing plans
The WordPress platform comes with 4 pricing options:
Personal — $7/month for removing WordPress.com ads and unlimited email support
Premium — $14/month for Google analytics integration and premium WordPress themes
Business — $33/month for advanced SEO tools and access to over 50,000 WordPress plugins
Ecommerce — $59/month for access to all WordPress features, including access to premium design options for online stores
As earlier mentioned, WordPress is free but you’ll need to pay for hosting to get your website running.
But you’ll have to dig deep into your pocket for hosting services, premium themes, and not forgetting, lots of plugins (depending on your needs).
On average, you’ll part with up to $138/month to build and run a self-hosted WordPress site. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
In short, WordPress isn’t exactly an affordable way to build a website.
So, what is?
Final verdict — Is Webflow the Best Website Builder for You?
There’s a steep learning curve to using the Webflow platform, especially if it’s your first time to use the website builder.
Being too technical for most beginners, it’s safe to say that getting up and running with Webflow can be an extremely tedious and long process.
Webflow is also more expensive compared to systeme.io, WordPress, and other professional website builders.
The only website builder that stands above the rest is systeme.io:
It’s free to use
Seamlessly connects every part of your business
It’s hassle-free and smooth
On top of that, it offers website-building solutions as well as marketing solutions to grow and level up your business online.
Systeme.io is simply the best and free Webflow alternative.
FAQs about Webflow
Still eager to know or learn more about Webflow?
Great! We’ve compiled some of the Internet’s frequently asked questions about the Webflow platform.
Yes, they are. Webflow websites are all designed with SEO in mind.
In fact, Webflow’s free SSL, mobile-responsiveness, hosting, and standard codes are all geared toward making Webflow sites rank higher.
Sadly, you can’t. Webflow allows users to develop websites on its platform and nowhere else.
It’s equally futile to import your custom code on Webflow because it won’t be reimported.
You can enroll in Webflow University for free and access hundreds of free lessons, from beginner to advanced levels.
However, it lacks proper support and personalized accountability.
Yes, you can. Webflow meets all your blogging needs through its ranging tools designed for building ecommerce sites, blogs, websites, etc.
Their most prominent feature for creating blogging platforms is, of course, the no-code Webflow Designer.
Conclusion
Evidently, Webflow, systeme.io, and WordPress platforms are all great options for anyone building a website, blog, or ecommerce store.
However, syteme.io is the overall winner that sticks out a mile.
It’s also a landmark, all-in-one marketing platform (not just a website builder) with all the right tools to scale your business.
Think of systeme.io as a treasure trove of valuable marketing tools, and when it comes to functionality, it delivers in spades.
Sign up for free today and build a business and robust online presence!
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© systeme.io. All rights reserved.
© systeme.io. All rights reserved.